An Epiphany Post

The painting that inspired the composer.

Since the Feast of the Epiphany is just around the corner, I thought I’d tell you about a woman from an opera about the Three Kings. If you’re not familiar with Amahl and the Night Visitors, I invite you to check it out. It’s quite short (less than an hour), and in English. Here’s a link where you can watch the original TV broadcast of the opera on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlg81twKXbY

Basic story overview: Amahl is a crippled shepherd boy. His father has died and even after selling almost all they have, his mother doesn’t know how they will make ends meet. One night three royal visitors stop at their home on their way to Bethlehem. Amahl’s mother does her best to make them comfortable, gathering wood and asking her neighbors to bring food for her guests. While the kings sleep, the mother stares at all the gifts they are taking to another child they spoke of. She stares at the gold and thinks of how even a coin or two could help Amahl. 

As she reaches for the gold, the kings’ servant catches her and everyone is awoken by his shouts. King Melchior tells her that she may keep the gold because the Child they seek doesn’t need it. He explains to her that “on love alone He will build His kingdom... and the keys to His city belong to the poor.” (It’s such a beautiful song. I have no words for it.) Amahl’s mother realizes that this Child he speaks of is the one she has been waiting for, and gives back the gold, wishing she could send something of her own to the Child. Amahl offers to send the Child his crutch, and he is instantly cured. He walks! Amahl goes with the kings to take the crutch to the Christ Child. The End.

Even though she’s the only character not mentioned in the title, and the only character without an actual name, Amahl’s mother is one of the most remarkable figures in this story. Her love for her son drives all of her actions and decisions, and she always thinks of him before thinking of herself. When she realizes that they have sold all that they can, her main worry is that her son must become a beggar. She does not dwell on her own humiliation. Later, when she contemplates stealing some of the kings’ gold, her only thought is how it could help Amahl. She does not think of jewels and fine clothes for herself, but of food and warm clothes for her son. But when she is discovered, she does not attempt to excuse or justify herself. She accepts that she was wrong to take the gold and she repents of it. 

(from the 1978 movie) 

Amahl’s mother is also a woman of action. She does much more than stand still and sing, which is surprising, considering it’s an opera. :) When she recognizes that something needs doing, she up and does it, regardless of the personal sacrifice involved. She sells their belongings to buy food, and we can only guess what treasures she had to let go in order to keep her son fed—perhaps mementos of her husband or family heirlooms. When she has unexpected guests, she herself goes to gather wood for the fire and she sends her son to ask the neighbors to bring food. It would have been a cold, dark night to be outside, and it would have been humbling to ask others to bring food for her own guests, but she is a generous and gracious hostess and would not have dreamed of suggesting that the kings try finding lodging elsewhere. Instead she willingly inconveniences herself for their comfort. No doubt Amahl learned generosity from his mother, and it is this generous spirit which prompts him to offer the Christ Child his crutch, bringing about his miraculous cure.

I had always thought of Amahl and the Night Visitors as an unconventional Christmas story, but after deeper reflection, I realized that the message of the opera is the same one that is found in many of the best Christmas stories. These qualities of love, generosity, and a readiness to sacrifice which Amahl’s mother embodies are the qualities of the Christ Child which we meditate on during the season of His birth and seek to imitate better during the coming year.